Carton handle

ABSTRACT

A rigid, molded plastic handle is provided with tabs permitting attachment of the handle to a carton.

United States Patent Inventor Leon Lautin 43 White Drive North, Cedarhurst, N.Y. 1 1516 Appl. No. 819,233 Filed Apr. 25, 1969 Patented Sept. 28, 1971 CARTON HANDLE 1 Claim, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 229/52 A, 16/125 Int. Cl 365d 5/46 Field of Search 229/52 A, 52 AL, 52 AM; 16/111, 114, 125; 190/57, 58

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1938 Zettler 229/52 A 5/ 1945 Borbe 229/52 AL 7/1947 Klein 229/52 AM 9/1958 Slater 229/52 A 1/1962 Poupitch 16/125 X 5/ 1962 Meisenheimer 229/52 AM X 4/1965 Zysman 16/114 X 4/1967 Field 229/52 AL X 5/1968 Hidding 229/52 AL FOREIGN PATENTS 8/1952 Great Britain 190/58 9/1963 France 16/125 Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney-Leonard 11. King ABSTRACT: A rigid, molded plastic handle is provided with tabs permitting attachment of the handle to a carton.

PATENTEUSEPZBIBYI 3508314 SHEET 1 0F 2 FIG.I

(PRIOR ART) INVENTOR. LEON 1A UT! Y B immb \wa ATTORNEY PATENTEB SEP28 I9?! 3.1608314 SHEET 2 0r 2 ATTORNEY CARTON HANDLE This invention relates generally to plastic handles and more particularly to such handles as are used to support cardboard containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Handles such as the type to which the present invention is directed are used to support containers. For example, it is common to find a 25-pound box of laundry detergent with a small plastic handle that facilitates carrying of the box. Generally, the prior art handles consist of a flat plastic strip, the ends of which each have a perpendicular tab adapted to be inserted in a slot formed in the top of the cardboard box.

A shortcoming of the prior art handle is its inherent flexibility. When installed on a box the handle tends to form a minimum are when the heavy package is lifted, this causing discomfort to the user. When the user walks with the package there is a natural tendency for the package to swing and this causes further discomfort.

Heretofore it has not been thought practical to provide a rigid plastic handle for a carton. However, the present invention provides such a handle at a price that is competitive with the prior art structure. Because the part of the handle that is engaged by the hand is rigid, it is very comfortable. It should be clearly understood that the handle comprising this invention is in no way comparable to conventional luggage handles even though it bears a superficial resemblance thereto. Apart from rigidity, the primary characteristic of the present invention is its low cost that permits it to be used only once and then thrown away.

In its broadest aspect the handle comprising the present in vention includes a rigid central portion adapted to be gripped by hand and a pair of rigid side posts extending downwardly from the central portion. Flexible legs are either secured to or formed integrally with the side posts. Each flexible leg includes a rigid tab that is positioned transversely to the flexible leg. When the rigid tab is inserted in an appropriately sized and located slot formed in the top of the carton, the handle can be used to carry the carton. Preferably, the present invention is molded of a plastic such as polyethylene.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved handle for a cardboard carton or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rigid handle for a cardboard carton or the like, the handle having rigid end members flexibly attached thereto.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved rigid handle for a cardboard carton or the like, as described above, including means for attaching the rigid end members to the rigid legs of the handle.

A particular object of this invention is to provide an improved rigid handle for a cardboard carton or the like, as described above, wherein the rigid end members are flexibly integral with the rigid legs of the handle.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularity and will,

in part, become obvious from the following more detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, which forms an integral part thereof.

In the various figures of the drawing like reference characters designate like parts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of the prior are handle before installation thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the prior art handle after installation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, illustrating an alternative embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional side elevational view, of another alternative embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional elevational view taken along line 9--of FIG. 7 illustrating the present invention in solid outline before assembly and in dot-and-dash outline after assembly.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown one com mon form of prior art structure. The handle 10 is molded of a flexible plastic such as polyethylene and is comprised of a central body portion 12 the ends of which are provided with tabs 14 formed in planes at a right angle to the plane of the body portion 12. In the assembled condition the tabs 14 are inserted in relatively narrow slots 16 formed in the top layer 118 of a cardboard carton or the like. Since the tabs 14 have a width dimension T that is greater than the width dimension 1 of the slots 16, the handle cannot be pulled out. However, as may be seen in FIG. 2 particularly, the handle 10 forms an arch since it is inherently flexible. This construction makes it difficult to carry, say, a 25-pound box and causes considerable discomfort. The load cannot be uniformly spread over the user's fingers and can therefore cause pain.

The present invention, by way of contrast, provides a rigid handle that can be gripped with ease and comfort. Means functionally equivalent to that used in the prior art are used to secure the present invention to the cardboard carton or the like. All embodiments of the present invention are molded of a rigid plastic such as polyethylene and at a cost that is competitive with the prior art. Thus the present invention can be discarded after a single usage if so desired.

One embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG. 3. Handle 20 is provided with a rigid central section 22 that forms the hand-gripping portion and rigid two side posts 24 extending downwardly therefrom. The lower portion of each side post 24 is formed with a slot 26 having a dimension 1. A flexible leg 28, having a first headed end 30 with a dimension T that is greater than dimension 1, is provided so that once headed end 30 is forced through the slot 26 it cannot normally be retracted. The inherent resilience of the material of headed end 30 permits this type of assembly. The opposite end of the flexible leg 28 is provided with a rigid tab 32 that is adapted to be inserted in a suitably sized and located slot 34 formed in the top of the cardboard carton or the like 36 in the same manner as with the prior art.

At this time it should be noted that the term flexible as it applies to the legs 28 is intended to mean that the legs can bend sufficiently to assume the position shown in FIG. 3. The term rigid, as it applies to tabs 32, is intended to mean that the tabs will resist bending and will not pull out once inserted. Any suitable means such as reduced thicknesses or cross sections can be used to provide the required flexibility. Similarly, increased thicknesses or stifiening ribs can be used to provide the required rigidity. The foregoing is well known in the art and applies equally well to the embodiments to be described subsequently.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment for securing the flexible legs to the rigid side posts. Since this is the only change over the previously described embodiment no other portion will be described, reference being had to FIG. 3 for a complete disclosure wherein similar reference characters are used. Flexible legs 40 are provided with a first end 42 having a transverse pin 44 fixed therein. A rivet or similar fastener has been found to be satisfactory. The dimension T over the extremities of the pin 44 is greater than dimension 1 of the slot 26. Thus the flexible legs cannot separate from the handle once they are installed.

Still another means for securing the flexible legs to the rigid side posts is shown in FIG. 5. Again only the difference between this embodiment and that of the previous embodiments will be described. Flexible legs 50 are provided with a first end 52 that is comprised of several folds of the leg itself.

In this manner first end 52 is provided with a thickness T that is greater than slot dimension t. The folded end 52 can be formed by bending the free end of the leg 50 several times and then applying heat. Thus the flexible legs cannot pull out once they are assembled.

FIGS. 6-9 illustrate an embodiment of the invention wherein the flexible legs are integral with the rigid handle as opposed to being separately assembled members as in the previous embodiments. The rigid central portion 62 of the handle 60 includes rigid side posts 64. Ribs 66 and 68 serve to stiffen the central portion 62 and the side posts 64, respectively, as well as to define a relatively thin web 70 in the side posts 64.

Slots 72 are molded or otherwise formed in the web 70 to define a flexible leg 74 molded integrally with each side post 64. The free end of each flexible leg 74 is molded integrally with a relatively rigid tab 76. As may best be seen in FIG. 9, the flexible legs 74 are bent around their lower extremities so that the tabs 76 may be inserted in the slot 78 formed in the cardboard carton or the like 80. Since the tabs 76 are disposed transversely to the plane of the legs 74 and since the tabs have a dimension T that is greater than dimension 1 of the slot 78, the handles cannot be pulled out.

Typical of synthetic resins that are suitable for the purposes of this invention are polyethylene and polypropylene. Other resins which have the requisite flexibility, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art, may be employed.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the invention presently contemplated. However, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An improved handled carton or the like comprising the combination of:

a. a carton;

b. an elongated, rigid central section adapted to be gripped by hand;

c. a rigid side post integral with and extending downwardly from said central section proximate each end thereof; and

d. a flexible leg coupled to each said side post, said flexible legs having means for passing through an opening in the wall of the carton and for grippingly engaging the carton, said dripping means being larger in at least one dimension than the opening in the carton through which it passes, whereby the carton can be lifted by said handle and wherein said flexible legs are separate members having an end portion above said carton, said end portion being larger than a slot in a respective side post through which said flexible leg member extends. 

1. An improved handled carton or the like comprising the combination of: a. a carton; b. an elongated, rigid central section adapted to be gripped by hand; c. a rigid side post integral with and extending downwardly from said central section proximate each end thereof; and d. a flexible leg coupled to each said side post, said flexible legs having means for passing through an opening in the wall of the carton and for grippingly engaging the carton, said gripping means being larger in at least one dimension than the opening in the carton through which it passes, whereby the carton can be lifted by said handle and wherein said flexible legs are separate members having an end portion above said carton, said end portion being larger than a slot in a respective side post through which said flexible leg member extends. 